Thanks For Sharing

Addiction comes in many forms and while alcohol and prescription drugs typically top the list, sexual addiction is very real despite the stigma often times associated with it. Sex addict Adam (Mark Ruffalo) has managed to avoid all sexual desires for the past five years with the help of his support group and his sponsor, Mike (Tim Robbins). Not everyone handles it as gracefully as Adam, however. Neil (Josh Gad) doesn’t believe he has a problem and is only going to meetings because of a court order. While all three are going through the same program, they each have unique experiences in dealing with their addiction.

Thanks for Sharing isn’t just about sex, either; it deals with all types of addition. Mike also is an alcoholic and addiction apparently runs in the family as his son, who has returned home, has spent years strung out on drugs. He says he’s clean now but Mike doesn’t believe him. Everyone seems to be looking for acceptance from their peers, but trust is a difficult thing to earn.

The film gives a down to Earth view of addiction and the difficulties that arise because of it and doesn’t hide behind cheap humor and jokes that mask the main idea behind it. Adam is having difficulties of his own when he finds himself in a relationship with Phoebe (Gwyneth Paltrow). Getting back into the game after resisting all sexual urges for the past five years no doubt puts a strain on the two’s relationship and Adam struggles with telling Phoebe the truth or hiding his past.

Perhaps the most compelling relationship of the film is between Neil and one of the few female sexual addicts in the film, Dede (Alecia Moore aka Pink). What makes it so memorable is that the film doesn’t conform to the typical guy/girl relationship with them. They start out as friends attending the same meetings and stay that way throughout the film. They’re perfectly content with not being “friends with benefits” or something more, and it works. It’s refreshing to see a relationship that doesn’t immediately result in sex and I applaud Thanks for Sharing for going against the grain.

Addiction affects everyone differently but when all is said and done, the results appear the same in Thanks for Sharing. The film wraps things up a little too neatly and doesn’t quite differentiate the three main relationships enough by the end. It’s still a great story that transcends just sex and with some great performances all around, it is well worth watching.